The Ahl-e Hadith Challenge Concerning the Recitation of al-Fatiha

Question

The Ahl-e Hadith [have published] a pamphlet entitled “Fasl al-Khitab fi Qira’at Fatihat al-Kitab” (فصل الخطاب في قراءة فاتحة الكتاب). In it these people have cited ten hadiths, and after citing them they have also issued a challenge: “By means of this challenge and announcement we invite all the Hanafi scholars of India, Khurasan, Sindh, the Punjab, Arabia, China, Japan, Africa, America, Australia, Europe, etc.

Answer

The challenge of the Ahl-e Hadith gentlemen is no new challenge, and the promise of a reward is no new promise. And how weak a position it is that, in their view, the recompense for serving in the path of truth is a reward of twenty-five rupees! Had they said, “We will accept the truth,” that would have carried weight.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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